Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .

Why do you write the genre that you write?
I write mysteries because that’s what I’ve always loved to read, ever since I was a kid. I like the puzzle aspect of it, and the opportunity to get to know the characters.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
Sam, the young deputy who helps my main character Hank with investigations, has a habit of tugging on his ear when he’s thinking. It’s one of the reasons Hank’s secret nickname for Sam is “The Pup.” That and he’s eager, enthusiastic and has boundless energy.

Tell us how you got into writing?
I was a newspaper reporter for years. Then when I had kids, I turned to books. My first was non-fiction, the true crime account of a case that I’d covered as a reporter. Then I switched to fiction.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
I was a reporter.

How many books do you have published?
Eight—six Sheriff Hank Worth mysteries, one true crime (The False Prophet: Conspiracy, Extortion and Murder in the Name of God) and one ghostwriting gig.

Where do you write?
At home. I’m not much for coffee shops or other outside places when it comes to writing.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Popcorn.

Who is an author you admire?
Laurie R. King. Not only is she an amazing and prolific writer, but she’s also extremely generous to the writing community with her time and expertise.

What’s your favorite genre to read?
Crime fiction.

What are you reading now?
Hurt Mountain by Angela Crook.

What is your favorite beverage to end the day?
Tea—hot in the winter and iced in the summer. Always with lemon.

What is next for you?
I’m working on the seventh Hank Worth book and also a standalone thriller, set in the California Bay Area.

Where can we find you?
Writing or curled up on the couch reading a book. Oh, also at clairebooth.com, on Facebook at @claireboothauthor, on Instagram at @claire.booth10, and on Twitter at @clairebooth10.

Now to have some fun . . .

Chocolate, vanilla, or another flavor
Is cheesecake a flavor? It’s considered one in my house.

Ice cream or cake
Cake!

Fruits or vegetables
Fruits

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast

Dining in or dining out
Dining in

City life or country living
Country

Beach or mountain
Mountain, and I’m lucky to live near the Sierra Nevada.

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Fall, definitely

Extrovert or introvert
hmm, it depends on the occasion

Early bird or night owl
Early bird

And even more fun . . .

What’s your favorite movie?
I think it’s a tie between Yesterday and The Usual Suspects

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Paper and pencil, sunscreen, cheesecake

My bio:
Formerly a crime reporter for daily newspapers throughout the United States, Claire Booth has used this experience to write five previous Sheriff Hank Worth mystery novels based on small-town American life. She is also the author of one non-fiction book, The False Prophet: Conspiracy, Extortion, and Murder in the Name of God. She lives in California.